I was wandering around the computer store this morning and came across the PMG Quadpad. It is a keyboardless PC computer using windows. Handheld, it seem to be the first example of what I have been looking for, sort of a great big PDA. Something I could use as an electronic legal pad.
Here is a site shilling it.
It does not have the ‘instant on’ that is so handy in a PDA. It does not come with handwriting/graffitti recognition (I suppose there is some Windows program for that?) It does not seem powerful enough to support voice recognition like Naturally Speaking.
It would be real neat for reading books on the airplane.
Anyone got one? Anyone got an opinion. The price here is SAR5K, about US$1,300.
A gentle bump to bring this to the attention of people who use a Saturday/Sunday weekend.
I called the PMG company in Singapore the other day. I also sent them an e-mail asking for a spec sheet. They asked me for my home address and company name. I didn’t feel like telling them. They told me they did not feel like sending me a spec sheet.
I expect better service from Singapore companies. I learned better.
So anyway, what about this gadget?
Paul, this is simply a “slate” tablet pc from a no name Singapore company. It does have handwriting recognition. A little strange that the o/s is Windows XP Home or Windows XP Professional and not Windows XP Tablet edition. Does not include Office and there’s no keyboard. There is no price on the homepage, and about 4 places to buy it. Smells real fishy to me.
A tablet is a PC that also has a touch screen you can write on. The “slate” form factor is a touch screen that you can write on (usually it can detach from the keyboard section)
Here’s a link to Fujitsu’s tablets and slates: http://store.shopfujitsu.com/fpc/Ecommerce/productoverview.do?type=TB&pgid=Tablets
Without saying too much, I’m in a somewhat related industry. I have a Toshiba tablet and and IBM/Lenovo tablet pc. I’ve had several different windows powered smart pda/phone devices. I’ve played with the Fujitsu and man is it sweet. It’s tiny and works really well.
The thing is, you need to play with the devices to see if it might be what you like. For the tablet, man I was drooling and scheming for a way to get my company to give me one. Finally I got one, and I found out I don’t use the tablet function very much. Actually, only at customer visits to kinda show off cool toys and to take meeting notes in a relatively unobtrusive manner. The text to type is too slow and cumbersome still. I just take notes and then type out a summary afterwards at the top. It’s pretty neat because you can type in search terms and it will pretty accurately search your handwriting. The other cool thing is if you mark up powerpoints or other documents, and the tablet function can be pretty cool for that.
Now, I’ve never seen this device. If it fits you to a T, and is the device of your dreams, I’d look into it more. If it’s just kinda cool and kinda something sorta like what you think you’ve been looking for, well my advice is to look around more.
As for reading, it’s work to read a ebook on a tablet and more so on a pda. Plus you really have to consider battery life. I mean, you’re in Saudi and it takes a while door to door to get back to the US of A. You probably can’t get more than a few hours of battery life, maybe 6 max, when you really need something that works for at least 24.
Just not there yet. I’ve seen an 11x14 prototype device that is about 1 mm thick you can basically roll up and put in your back pocket. It’s the concept being touted as really do the edoc, ebook, enewspaper buster, enotebook buster. I’ve only seen the demo and never played with it. Give it a few years and you’ll probably have what you want.
Thank you all for talking me down. I suspect the technology is not quite there yet, as you said. Also their sales staff annoyed me on the phone. The price here is SAR5K, about USD1,250. Just a toy really.